AAIA International Services: Trade Opportunities

Click here to view a printer-friendly report with some helpful updated information from the government for companies who import product into the U.S.
Further information can also be found at www.customs.gov and
www.aiag.org/publications/tc1.html

Market Monitor News

TCC Online has moved to www.export.gov/tcc. It has been redesigned to be more user-friendly, providing simpler, easier to navigate pages. The latest upgrades offer one touch access to various content areas, enhanced searching and indexing functions, and links to more departmental export resources. All of your existing bookmarks for one-stop access to favorite trade agreements compliance monitoring and market access support tools on our old site need to be updated.

Standards Notifications

Sign up here for the latest in regional or industry-related WTO standards notifications - e-mailed to you directly! http://ts.nist.gov/ts/htdocs/210/217/export-alert.htm

If your e-mail supports links, TCC Online's "Recently Added Information" page can be accessed directly by clicking on the link http://www.tcc.mac.doc.gov/cgi-bin/doit.cgi?226:54:755631508:12.

Export Alert Service from ITA & NIST

Please note that NIST recently reorganized its website and the Export Alert! link has changed to http://ts.nist.gov/ts/htdocs/210/ncsci/export-alert.htm.

U.S. industry has the opportunity under the World Trade Organization Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT Agreement) to review and comment on proposed foreign technical regulations that may affect their businesses. Over 140 WTO members are required to notify any trade-significant proposed drafts or changes to technical regulations to the WTO Secretariat, who in turn makes the information available to all WTO members. By registering for this service, subscribers will receive automatic e-mails of WTO notifications of proposed technical regulations. If interested on reviewing and commenting on a regulation, you can request a copy of the full text of the proposed regulation from NIST.

Export Alert Features...

A free Web-based service designed to disseminate WTO TBT notifications via e-mail to U.S. industry.
Subcribers register online at http://ts.nist.gov/ncsci and select their areas of interest by industry sector and/or country.
Provides subscribers with authentic notification of proposed technical regulations in global markets.
Allows subscribers to request full text of the draft regulatory document and comment on the proposed regulation.

Who Should Register for Export Alert?

Exporters, small and medium sized enterprises
Conformity assessment organizations that provide testing and other services to exporters
Trade policy officials in federal and state governments
Engineers, particularly those interested in product development
Consultants and lawyers working with exporters
Quality management and environmental management professionals
Any stakeholder

For more information contact:

National Center for Standards and Certification Information
National Center for Standards and Technology
100 Bureau Dr., MS 2160
Gaithersburg, Md. 20899-2160
Tel: 301-975-4040
Fax: 301-926-1559
E-mail: ncsci@nist.gov

Mexico

Members interested in entering the Mexican market -- or expanding their trade and investment there -- have a valuable new resource in the services of AAIA's Mexico City Representative, Ben Rosen.
Ben and his assistant, Sergio Rosado, of North-South Trade and Investment (NSTI), a leading international business consulting firm, are available to assist members with market information, trade leads, and regulations affecting aftermarket sales and investment in Mexico.
NSTI specializes in assisting NAFTA companies start up their Mexican operations -- whether through a distributor, sales office, wholly owned subsidiary, joint venture or manufacturing facility.
NSTI is beginning its eighth year of operations in Mexico and has performed consulting work across various industrial sectors including automotive, oil & gas, health products, environmental, power generation, agriculture, mining, and maquiladoras.

Services to AAIA Members
As AAIA's Mexico City representatives, Ben Rosen and his NSTI team provide AAIA members the following on-the-ground, exclusive membership services:

Regulatory Watchdog: on-going monitoring of proposed Mexican government regulations that affect all aftermarket segments by conducting a daily review of Diario Official, Mexico's equivalent to our Federal Register.
Advocacy: Promotion of pro-aftermarket policies through contact with key Mexican government agencies, the American Embassy, and through business coalitions.
Market Assistance: Help locating potential distributors or suppliers; product-specific market information; trade and investment leads; answers to your questions about regulatory compliance and other marketing concerns.

Customized Service also Available
Members may also receive more personalized market entry, regulatory, and trade and investment services by contracting NSTI's services in Mexico. The value-added services NSTI may provide to members include:

Start-up operations services:

incorporation;
maquiladora and PITEX advice and registration;
permitting management;
advice and processing;
in-depth legal and regulatory analysis;
intellectual property registration and advice;
contract drafting and negotiation;
site selection;
business strategy and detailed market research reports such as: product-specific market studies, market assessments, in-depth competitor analysis, procurement analysis;
coporate services such as: partnering & joint-venturing strategy and sourcing, human resources & executive searches, financial modeling, preparing work plans with milestones and business plans, due diligence.

Government Relations
including providing company specific advocacy services before Mexican federal, state and local governmental entities.

Corporate Finance
including sourcing both debt and equity project financing in and outside of Mexico and introducing clients to the relevant organizations and decision-makers.

Contact NSTI at: Ruben Dario 39 #5, Col. Nueva Anzures, Mexico, DF 11580. Phone: 011 (525) 250-0188, fax: 011 (525) 545-9569, e-mail: brosen@infosel.net.mx.

AAIA and U.S. Chamber of Commerce Program is Driving Sales

Check out www.thaiusbusiness.com.

New business is being developed by American and Thai aftermarket companies introduced through the Web-based Strategic International Assistance and Matchmaking (SIAM) program developed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. AAIA has partnered with the U.S. Chamber and leading Thai auto parts industry groups in promoting this innovative program. Commercial success already has been cited by some of the fifty AAIA members now participating in the SIAM program.

To learn more, log on to www.thaiusbusiness.com, or contact Paul Richardson at the US Chamber of Commerce, 1615 H St., NW, Washington, DC 20062. Phone: (202) 463-5438, fax: (202) 463-3173, e-mail: Prichard@uschamber.com.